Adding a product and the IKPU code: what happens before it sells

When you add a product to Dona there is one required field beyond the name, price and photos — the IKPU. It is a tax code, and without it the product does not go on sale. This article explains why it is needed and how to choose it correctly.

What IKPU is and why it is required#

IKPU is a 17-digit number the state has assigned to every good and service. The tax registry writes it as MXIK and the paperwork calls it IKPU; they are two names for the same thing.

Every sale produces a receipt for the buyer, and that receipt has to carry the code of what was sold. If the code is wrong, the sale is reported to the tax service as a different product. That is why a product without a code cannot move to “On sale” on Dona: you can save it and keep it as a draft, but putting it on sale requires the code.

The rule works the same way in the panel, in the app and in bulk upload.

How to find the code#

The IKPU field offers two routes.

The first is typing the code if you know it. A code is exactly 17 digits. Once entered, the panel checks it against the tax classifier and shows what the code means — so you can see straight away whether you picked the right one.

The second is searching by name. You type the product name and the panel returns a list of matching codes. This is easier, because nothing has to be copied by hand from the tax website.

Precision matters. The registry narrows by level: group, class, position, then brand and model. Take the most specific code available — if you sell headphones, you need the headphone code, not a general “electronics” one.

Why the packing unit is asked for#

Once the code is chosen, a list of packing units fills in: piece, box, kilogram and so on. That has to be chosen too.

The reason is technical but important: when a receipt is issued, the packing unit is checked against the list that belongs to that exact IKPU. If the pair does not match, the receipt is rejected. So the panel catches this at save time rather than at payment time — and the problem never reaches the buyer.

If you change the code, pick the packing unit again: the old one may not belong to the new code.

What the error messages mean#

The panel separates the cases precisely:

• The code is not 17 digits — the shape is wrong, usually a missing digit or a numeric cell.
• The code was not found in the registry — the shape is right, but no such code exists.
• The code has been withdrawn — it is out of use; pick a current one.
• The packing unit does not belong to this code — the pair is mismatched.
• The classifier could not be reached — this does not mean your code is wrong. The tax service is not responding; wait a moment and retry.

That last one is worth separating: the draft still saves, and only going on sale has to wait.